title: Description of extreme longevity in the Balearic Islands: Exploring a potential Blue Zone in Menorca, Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine whether there was a Blue Zone, an area characterized by extreme longevity, in Menorca, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We explored official statistics of the Balearic Islands, Spain, and calculated life expectancy from 1991 to 2009, by sex and island, among other demographic estimators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The life expectancy at birth in Menorca reached a peak in 2007 with 82.3 years, but since 2001 in females and 2007 in males, it plateaued and then descended. The percentage of centenarians in Es Migjorn Gran was 0.17% in 2001, only because of the 0.33% male contribution, and it returned to within the average Balearic rates. There is no record of any other surviving centenarian after 2006 in Es Migjorn Gran. Results obtained with other demographic indices are confirmatory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears there was no extreme longevity or Blue Zone in Es Migjorn Gran and the surrounding villages in Menorca.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Caubet-Cimera Illes Balears, Bunyola, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández Vázquez
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carretero
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Puga González
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romaguera
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso-Fernández
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balcells
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grinberg
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poulain
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Balearics; Blue Zone; Menorca; longevity; survival